Cal-Maritime grad earning his stripes doing stand-up in Hollywood

D.C. Ervin was barely 23 when he graduated from the California Maritime Academy, packed his bags, left Vallejo, and ventured into the world, hoping to be one of the few, the proud -- and the funny.

Seven years later, Ervin continues his quest to find his niche in the world of stand-up comedy. And, while the CMA degree in business administration may not impress club owners or film producers, it perhaps provided the blueprint for the 30-year-old's second-go around with a USO Tour in February after a trip to Japan three months ago.

"You appreciate your freedom and the work they're doing for you," he said of the overseas troops. "These were kids 18 and 21 and you see them protecting what we take for granted. The things we complain about, they're protecting."

After Ervin returned home to Sherman Oaks, he started to praise men and women in uniform, thanking them for their service.

"I never used to do that," he said.

Hey, Ervin never used to think he'd ever be in a Marlon Wayans film, either, but he's up there on the big screen for "A Haunted House," opening Friday.

"I shot three scenes in the movie, but you never know how they chop and cut," Ervin said. "I didn't start claiming I'm in it until I saw myself in the preview and trailer. Then it was, 'OK, I'm in the movie.'"

Ervin was working an L.A. comedy club and Wayans was up next. Apparently, the member of the popular comedy family liked what he heard in Ervin and asked the surprised stand-up to audition for "A Haunted House."

Ervin didn't realize how much of a big-budget the movie was "until I started seeing the food on the set, the crab and steak."

"Now this is a big deal," he thought, calling the chance meeting with Wayans "the luck of the draw. Right place, right time."

The shoot itself went well, Ervin said.

"I was doing my best to learn," he said. "Let me be quiet and do what they tell me to do and watch."

With two daughters in Vallejo and Ervin's father in Fairfield, the comic said he hoped to travel north more in 2013 after leaving the Bay Area for a far-too-expensive Hollywood.

"My money put me in Sherman Oaks," said Ervin laughing that the learning curve was professional as well as financial.

"There's no such thing as an overnight success," he said. "It's 70 percent work and 30 percent luck and God. Or all God."

Sure, he added, he'll run into the famous occasionally. Dave Chappelle here, George Lopez there. He tries not to get too excited about the stars or a good performance.

"Don't get too high or too low," Ervin said. "And when it seems to get overwhelming, take a day breather. But only one day off, for the most part."

Surprising, it's not all cutthroat, he noted.

"It's tight-knit, for the most part," Ervin said. "There are a few bad apples in the bunch. But, for the most part, it's pretty cool."

After almost eight years, Ervin still enjoys what he's doing.

"I love it,' he said. "You have to love comedy to do stand-up. There's so much pain that goes along with it. It's not an easy thing to do. If you don't love it, I don't think you have a chance of being good at it."